Issues and Challenges Faced By Organic Farming with Special Reference to Certified Organic Inputs in Maharashtra

The Government’s agricultural policy seeks to enable technically sound, economically viable and socially acceptable use of natural resources for organic agriculture. The policy will bring potential area for organic farming, sustainability in soil water conservation, strengthening rural economy and bringing value addition to organic produce through fair pricing and organized marketing system. To facilitate organic farming, 12 state governments (Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Odisha) have come out with their own State Organic Farming Policies, and Sikkim became the first state to be declared an organic state. To increase the farmer income and improve the productivity of the farms, government has initiated a systematic approach towards promotion of Organic farming. The supply of certified organic inputs is an important link in the development of sustainable farming. Most of the governments in the world are emphasizing on promotion of organic farming.